We in the fire service do hide behind the fact that most of you don’t have a clue to what we are supposed to do or how. It seems the fires we are not as effiecent or that don’t go perfect we are the best. The wind driven (doesn’t take much wind) fires that we have a hard time controling, and work the hardest at, we get this BS. Usually the ones that build their house in a chimney or draw or saddle (you hillside home owners may want to look up those terms) with wood siding and explosive plants up to the wood deck on a narrow road that they fought to keep the right to park the BMW on with a lack of water supply that they didn’t want to pay an extra 30 dollars a year for a fully staffed FD (that part was for the clowns in San Diego County that don’t have a full time staffed FD, the firestation without a crew down the street won’t put out the fire, they have to be staffed to work!!). Whew!! I feel better now.

Some tips for urban/interface home owners:
1. Clear your brush!!!!!!!!
2. Cover your attic vents or make removable covers to place in advance of a fire (several homes we lose are do to the sparks getting into the attic and burning the house from the inside)
3. Access Access Access- We need a road in and most important a road out (provide turn around space if you can)
4. If you have a pool, provide a way for us to get that water for our use. (draft hydrant in your front yard, buy a small fire pump 100 gpm would help..250 gpm would be awsome, access space to get our hose to the pool)
5. I love wood decks too, but in the hills you are asking for your place to burn down. If you must keep the deck..keep it maintained. In advance of the fire. Remove the furniture.
6. If you have the funds, build a water tank above your home.
7. Look into Barricade, it works if used the right way.
8. Invite your local fire station to visit your home, ask their advice in making your home more defendable.
9. Ask the firefighters about creating a “safety zone” for them. If your home has a safe location to park the engine. An area that the firefighters can run to for safety in the event the fire over runs them. Which home do you think would be the most likely saved??
10. Put your most important documents in a small portable fire safe.
11. Have a “go bag” for evacuation.
12. Have a neighborhood Pre-fire season BBQ and invite your local FD station to come and talk to the home owners about preparing for the coming fire season. In SoCal the worst part of fire season is Sept. Oct. and Nov., but remember a brush fire can start at anytime of the year.

These are just some of the steps you can take to prepare.

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http://xanga.com/chandracotejk

Sometimes I type too quick, especially when responding to such idiotic comments.

I was born and raised here in Los Angeles living a great portion of my life on the hill with a fence separating my family’s property from Griffith Park. I have memories of riding horses bareback through the park, the zoo, picnics in the little green forest nestled away in a spot above Amesbury. My dad golfed in the park. My brothers, sister and I hiked in the park, played baseball at the diamond up at the end of Commonwealth and my son enjoyed the park as well.

The Los Angeles Fire Department has been involved in fighting some wicked fires in the park when the winds change at a moments notice and what appears to be a small fire suddenly flares big and horrific becoming threateningly close to your home and all you love after jumping from peak to peak without warning and then swiftly with a gust of wind turns the other direction and attends to it’s distruction elsewhere with no apparent reason.

The LAFD’s attention, dedication, training, stamina, courage and willingness to serve is something I have had the privilege of witnessing for many years, as a witness to fires in Griffith Park from my porch as a youngster, as a teen and as adult then and now a senior just a little ways away.

The care, the dedication of the LAPD as well is their courage in going into the fire area to assist, not just with getting people out of their homes who needed to be evacuated some able bodied, some not; some willing; some not –but further dealings with the endless and unbearable traffic on Los Feliz and the ever-present looky-loos, people who didn’t want to move on, but want to stay even if it means blocking emergency vehicles from getting to their much needed destination.

Well, I forgive you dearie, no matter, you were probably a just a little scared; so, you got rude and attacked my heros; the ones who are there to protect you & me. You know the ones who fish you out of the rivers, the burning cars, the burning buildings and protect you from the bad guys. The ones who give you cpr and give you life again; or maybe they put a collar on you as you lay in the street filled with your blood and tell you “it’s going to be ok, you’re just on the way to the hospital, you’ve been in a serious accident”. That’s what my heroes have done for me, my friends and my family and that’s what they continue to do and that’s why I love and appreciate them so very much.

As for SLO Gina “Courageous” Chovan, what a fabulous female officer. Always there for you, always welcoming, always of service and always doing her best with situations some of us would never have enough courage to keep our eyes opened about much less deal with and resolve.

Finally, about the birds. I live east of Griffith Park now and since the fire, there are lots and lots of birds over here. All different kinds, some I’ve never seen before. I’m going to have to get out my binoculars.

In appreciation of our finest, LAFD & LAPD!